Rehan Ahmed six-for pushes England case as Lions finally beat South Africa A

England Lions 148 for 4 (Coles 63*) beat South Africa A 146 (Pretorius 65. Rehan 6-34, Coles 3-23) by six wickets (via DLS method)

England Lions finally salvaged their first win of South Africa A 's tour at the fifth time of asking with a rain-interrupted six-wicket victory at New Road.

With a series win already secured in the 50-over leg of the tour, following on from a 2-0 clean sweep in the four-day matches, South Africa A took their foot off the gas. were bowled out for 146 in 31.3 overs. Lhuan-dre Pretorius hit 65 from 57 balls but the rest were undone by spinners Rehan Ahmed (6 for 34). James Coles (3 for 23).

The Lions then made hard work of their small target for a time, slipping to 72 for 4,. recovered to reach 148 for 4 in the 29th over thanks to a muscular, unbeaten 63 off 56 balls from Coles.

"My personal goal is just to keep improving. keep working on different variations that I need, so I am very happy with a six-fer," Rehan said. "I still feel there were balls in there that I need to improve on. those performances don't happen every day so I am definitely proud of that."

"The pitch gave me some good assistance and me and Colesy bowled well together. I think when the pitch is helping it is quite easy to look for too much, which I did a bit near the end,. I was pleased with the way I bowled."

In front of a crowd including 1,600 schoolchildren, South Africa A chose to bat. soon lost Tony de Zorzi, who edged a big drive at Henry Crocombe to slip, but Pretorius was soon motoring again.

He reached a 44-ball half-century with his fourth six, pummelled over long-off off Mason Crane,. appeared set to follow his century on Sunday with another until he chipped a return catch to Rehan.

That wicket triggered a big collapse. the Lions' first ascendancy of the series as the spinners ripped through the middle and lower order. Coles accounted for Marques Ackerman, who swept to deep square leg, Jason Smith lbw, and Connor Esterhuizen, who nicked behind.

Rehan had Sinethemba Queshile caught at slip, bowled Gerald Coetzee, had Prenelan Subrayen pouched at backward point. completed his five-for in unusual fashion when Nqabavomzi Peter overbalanced trying to pull and hit his own wicket.

Dian Forrester smashed Ahmed for one huge six. supplied the legspinner - who could come into contention for England's second Test against New Zealand at The Oval next week - with his sixth wicket when he holed out to deep midwicket in search of another.

Ben McKinney christened the Lions' reply with three quick fours but was then bowled by a big inswinger from Coetzee. The same bowler truncated Rehan's aggressive cameo when an attempted big hit reached only extra cover.

The Lions' progress was staccato. James Rew's 32-ball 19 ended when he edged Ottneil Baartman to slip. when Asa Tribe nicked Peter to the wicketkeeper, the first eight overs having produced 46 for 1, the next eight had yielded 26 for 3.

Coles calmed the nerves by batting with the necessary authority. The Sussex allrounder posted a run-a-ball 50 to power a match-clinching unbroken stand of 76 in 12 overs with Ben Mayes (17 not out).